By Rose Cross Mahorya
Mzuzu, September 5, Mana: An entrepreneur, Anna Keys has asked government to enhance its efforts of promoting ‘Buy Malawian Strategy Campaign’ saying it has the potential to accelerate the achievement of Malawi 2063.
Keys who is Founder of Maloto, a parent organization to Mzuzu International Academy, Kwithu Kitchen and Kwithu Community Based Organization was speaking Thursday when she opened a two-day Business Concert for youths at Mzuzu Stadium.
Keys said encouraging youth to embark on entrepreneurship without readily available markets is retrogressive and young people can be motivated to hatch entrepreneurial ideas if Malawians support the strategy.
“Most small businesses including those owned by youths have no market linkages.
“For instance, the number of fashion designers is increasing among young people, but the second-hand clothes market makes it hard for their businesses to survive. We have to slow down on importation products,” said Keys.
Director of Enterprise Development at Small and Medium Enterprise Development Institute Lydia Kadzongwe said efforts are being undertaken to enhance the promotion of youth enterprises by ensuring that their products are of high quality and desired standards.
“Young people are producing goods and high standard products that can beat most of the imported items, hence we must always allow them by providing a conducive business environment,” said Kadzongwe.
Founder of Njera Processors which produces soya bean porridge flour, Maggie Njera urged government tailor-made interventions so that youth enterprises’ products are easily certified.
“Most young people are growing into producers, however very few of them meet registration and certification standards because of exorbitant costs associated with the processes,” said Njera.
Chief Executive Officer for Mzuzu City Council, Gomezgani Nyasulu said the concert is one of the council’s way of getting closer to the youths and understanding their needs for the council to deliver young people’s expectations.
